Page 221 of Sinfully Savage Mafia

We’ve both taken shots.

We’re both at risk.

But somehow, I need to make them feel comfortable getting into a room with me. That way, I can build trust and then extinguish it with a knife blade to the jugular.

That’s what I do.

I see Jaelyn talking to Nate in the corner of the lobby. He turns toward us, his eyes skipping past Matteo and landing squarely on me. There’s a lot of rage in that gaze, and I have no doubt he’d try to pummel me again if we were anywhere else.

But right now, it looks like Jaelyn has talked him off the ledge.

He might let me live…tonight.

And tomorrow?

Well, like I said. There are plenty of people who want me dead, so he can just join those ranks and take his chances.

I’m still standing, so that says something.

I don’t hesitate to snake an arm around Jaelyn’s waist and Nate’s eyes narrow to slits as she snuggles into me. I’m tempted to grab one of her tits, but that would just be begging for trouble.

And my goal tonight is to not end up in the hospital. I have plans, very carnal ones that include only one Torres, and it’s not the fucking brute who’s still bleeding all over the lobby floor.

Nate’s jaw tightens as Jae lays her head against me. “So, you’ve got a plan for how all of this is gonna go down, Villani?”

I nod. “I’ll share it as soon as you have that partnership paperwork drawn up. I wanna be solid on our business agreement before I do anything with the cartel.”

His eyes skate to Jaelyn’s and she nods at him, grasping his hand. “This is for the best. It’s what we need to do.”

Nate snorts. “I can’t believe I’m hearing this. I expected more from you, Jae. You know what we’re trying to protect.”

“Look,” she says in a low voice. “We all win this way, and you get to keep part of your business. It may not be exactly the way we wanted it, but at least we’ll finally be free and safe.”

Nate looks at me. “You make sure that not a single hair on her head is damaged or I will come after you and torture you in ways you’ve never imagined.”

“Sounds like something Jaelyn said to me earlier today.” I chuckle. “Guess it’s in the blood.”

Jaelyn tentatively pulls away from me and wraps her arms around Nate, giving him a hug. It takes him a second, but he pulls her tight. He’s so large that her tiny body almost disappears into him. She whispers to him and he nods with one final glare in my direction.

“Tomorrow morning,” he grunts. “You come by the club and we’ll sign the papers. Then you execute your part of the deal.”

“That’s the plan,” I say.

Nate straightens up and Jaelyn laces her fingers with his as we walk toward the exit. “Come on. You need to get some sleep.”

He looks down at her. “And what about you?” he asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Oh, she’s not gonna be getting much sleep,” I say.

Matteo rolls his eyes and gives me a shove, and Jaelyn levels me with one of her icy stares.

We walk out into the dry heat, weaving our way around Ubers and cabs pulling up to the hotel as endless streams of people file into the famed revolving doors. Nate drops a kiss onto his sister’s head before looking back at me.

“Just so we’re clear, Villani. I fucking hate you. None of this changesthat.”

I flash a half-smile. “You’re in good company, Torres.”

He lets out a snort and pulls open his car door as we turn to head back inside.

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